COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – Ursinus College gymnastics coach Kim Valenti has announced the hiring of Brittany Montalbano as her first assistant coach.
A former all-conference gymnast at Texas Woman's University, Montalbano spent the past two years as a coach at Airborne Gymnastics. Montalbano coached all four events for levels 7-10 gymnasts, guiding her charges to an impressive run of success. All 11 of her level 8 gymnasts were regional qualifiers, six of whom were selected to the state team, and all nine level 9 gymnasts were western qualifiers. She also produced seven JO National qualifiers during her time with the program.
Montalbano also led her athletes to several TOPS developmental invite camps, coaching two TOPS Diamond Team members and two TOPS national qualifiers.
Before her time at Airborne, Montalbano spent the 2015-16 season as an assistant coach at Ball State University, where she coached floor and beam alongside extensive choreography responsibilities. She also served as director of the Cardinals' recreational program while at Ball State.
Montalbano was instrumental in coaching Denasiha Christian to a Mid-American Conference title on floor exercise and a top-three showing at her NCAA regional championship in 2016; Christian was one of six individual gymnasts to qualify for NCAA regionals during Montalbano's time with the program. Ball State was runner-up at the MAC championship that season, its highest finish in 14 years.
Montalbano has also served as an optional team coach for Kurt Thomas Gymnastics and Achievers gymnastics, as well as a camp coach at Flip Fest.
A standout student-athlete in her own right, Montalbano was a two-time Academic All-American at Texas Woman's University, where she earned first team All-Midwest Conference honors on the floor in 2014. In 2010 she helped her team win its second conference title at the Midwest Independent Conference Championship. The Pioneers finished runner-up at the USAG National Championships every year of her career.
Montalbano graduated from Texas Woman's University in 2013 with a degree in business administration. She earned a Masters in Business Administration from TWU in 2015.